S uccessful results from a 2016 pilot project of the Syngenta Operation Pollinator initiative , instigated and supported exclusively by ASDA growers through the IPL supply chain , now aims to plant up over 100 hectares of the specially selected Green Headland cover mix on more than 30 farms for the coming season . Belinda Bailey , Syngenta Environmental Initiatives Manager , highlighted that potato and root vegetable headlands are typically left uncropped , to aid management and harvesting of the cropped field area . However , these bare soil areas are left dangerously exposed to soil erosion or damage by headlandturning of heavy machinery , can become a weed burden and have little or no ecological value . “ The partnership with ASDA and IPL has worked with Kings to create a specific Green Headland seed mix designed to be easily established with the crop , protect the soil structure and provide a valuable feeding and habitat resource for invertebrates and other farmland biodiversity ,” she reported .
“ Monitoring of the first year ’ s performance has revealed the
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great value of the flowering mixture for a wealth of insect life , along with the positive feedback of growers on the benefits of the mixture ,” added Belinda . “ We are now looking to extend its use on more farms , and to continue monitoring both the ecological enhancement and the physical improvements to soils that the Green Headland offers .”
Independent ecological assessment of invertebrate biodiversity , from one visit to each of the trial Green Headland areas , revealed over 11,000 insects collected and 140 different species . That included 41 species of pollinators ; 29 species of known predators beneficial to crops and at least 118 species of potential food sources for game and other farmland bird chick rearing .
Chris Brown , ASDA Senior Director of Sustainable Sourcing , highlighted the project demonstrated the good stewardship of farmland by growers supplying the company ’ s stores and customers . “ We invest a lot of time and effort in assuring the sustainability of food production globally ; this initiative highlights the efforts of UK growers to work towards increasing biodiversity .
“ These are first steps with the project , but it is incredibly exciting
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and positive to see the results of independent monitoring that validates the benefits of good practice and enhancing the farmland environment .
“ It ’ s a genuinely sustainable initiative that can offer a simple cost effective and time efficient solution to make better use of a hitherto unused area of land , to improve the environment and to protect the valuable soil resource .”
Adrian Baker , Farm Manager at F B Parrish & Son , based at Lodge Farm , Chicksands in Bedfordshire , reported one of the benefits of the cover crop used this year was how easy it was to establish . “ Soil protection is vitally important on our light greensands , with measures such as a CTF ( Controlled Traffic Farming ) system on the fields .
“ The cover crop was simply direct drilled on the headlands , and got away and grew without us spending too much time . We also noted that the green cover was effective in reducing the risk of soil erosion during potato and onion crop irrigation .”
In the first year , Adrian was rewarded with 46 different species found on the farm ’ s four trial Green Headland areas , including the discovery of a Red-tailed cuckoo bumblebee – which has been categorised as regionally scarce –
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along with a Reed yellow faced bee , which highlighted the habitat ’ s value to attract wide variety of pollinators . And he reported the fantastic public feedback on the colour and flowering of the mix , where a footpath crossed a cover crop field .
Other notable finds for the study ’ s monitoring ecologist , Paul Lee , included a Red-carder bumblebee , which is on the BAP Priority Species list , near Woodbridge in Suffolk , and six different species of Furrow bee from just one Green Headland margin , alongside an onion crop in Cambridgeshire .
“ Interest in soil health and green cover crops has been building momentum for the last few years ,” reported Richard Barnes of Kings . “ Now growers can realise the significant potential such crops can bring to wider farmland biodiversity . This works has provided a fascinating insight to what can be achieved .”
IPL suppliers for ASDA who would be interested to get involved with the Green Headland initiative and trial should contact the company ’ s Senior Agronomist , Simon Taylor .
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